Tech Pitch: Snap.hr

Already serving over 1,600 companies, this clever recruitment platform uses AI and machine learning to match tech talent with top roles in just 12 days

by Julia Watts

Updated: Apr 18, 2017 Published: Apr 18, 2017

Co-founder and CEO Raoul Tawadey

Company name: Snap.hrFounders: Raoul Tawadey (30) and Roberto Pérez Nygaard (30)Background: Tawadey and Nygaard co-founded Snap.hr after pivoting a previous start-up called ReadWave, an online social platform where writers can share short stories. CEO Tawadey holds a degree in Neuroscience from UCL, while CTO Nygaard has over seven years’ experience coding in various start-ups and has a computer science degree.Based in: London, UKLaunched: 2017 (Founded in 2015)

Very simply, what does your tech start-up do?

Snap.hr is a platform which connects companies with top technical talent. It uses AI (artificial intelligence) and machine learning technology, combined with a specialist team of recruitment experts, to help the best tech talent discover their ideal job.

Already, we have over 1,600 companies using our platform – the most popular among our candidates being Skyscanner, Transferwise, Tesco and Moo – and over 12,000 talented tech specialists (screened for suitability) who have joined to find roles.

Due to our unique matching tools, 95% of candidates will respond within 48 hours of being contacted by a business and the average time to hire is only 12 days, which is half the industry standard.

Tell us why there’s a need – what do you disrupt?

At Snap.hr we believe that traditional recruiting and headhunting methods are outdated and inefficient. For example, general platforms like LinkedIn require a huge time commitment and traditional recruiters can lack transparency and tend to push their own agenda.

At Snap.hr we’re solving these issues by using cutting edge technology combined with in-house experts to improve matching and transparency between candidates and companies, which as a result is increasing not only hiring but also retention rates within roles.

To give the best possible recommendations and matches, our technology continually improves and learns, processing data such as skills, requirements, qualifications, interests and salary expectations. Snap.hr then turns the traditional recruitment model on its head, enabling companies to contact desirable candidates directly (and vice versa) creating faster, more open and transparent communication.

Is Snap.hr funded?

To date, Snap.hr has received seed funding from Connect Ventures, BoxGroup, Peter Read, and Siraj Khaliq (co-founder of Climate.com and Atomico partner), the amount of which is undisclosed.

We’re proud to say the company is currently profitable and is also looking to build on its initial investment in the future in order to scale the business across further markets and grow the team.

What were you doing before you started Snap.hr?

In my previous start-up, I gained first-hand experience of the difficulty in finding great developers as we looked to grow our engineering team.

After speaking to my peers in the start-up world, I realised that they all shared the same challenge which confirmed my suspicions that recruitment needs to evolve beyond using traditional job boards, LinkedIn and cold calling. This was when we decided to start Snap.hr.

What’s the best thing about being based in London?

London is an incredible melting pot of diversity, talent and creativity, which makes it unique. Being based in such a truly global city means we benefit from a steady influx of new tech talent and high growth companies, which is why Snap.hr can thrive here.

So far, our UK operations have grown 300% in the last quarter and, as we’re seeing a rise in UK developers looking to relocate post-Brexit, we’ll also be expanding into two new European cities in the next few months.

Looking to launch your business in London? Browse Startups’ free guides to running a company in the capital.